Michael Owen: Robert Lewandowski deserves 2021 Ballon d'Or prize

Former Liverpool and Real Madrid striker Michael Owen believes Robert Lewandowski is worthy of winning the 2021 Ballon d'Or award. Despite a stellar career, 33-year-old Lewandowski has yet to be crowned as the best player in the world. However, he has been named as one of the 30 candidates in this year's shortlist alongside previous winners Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

In the latest edition of FOOTBALL NOW, Euronews spoke exclusively to Owen, who won the Ballon d'Or in 2001, after a season that saw him win three trophies for Liverpool. Despite their strong campaigns, Owen doesn't think this year's award should go to Messi or Ronaldo.

"It's very open this year. Of course, Messi and Ronaldo over the last decade or so have dominated it. I would say Messi, out of the two of them, is probably ahead of the pair this season for the award, probably because of his exploits with Argentina and winning the trophy at an international level.

With 6 Ballon d'Ors to his name, Messi is the competition's record holder and the Paris St Germain forward is the favourite to pick up the award once again. With 40 goals and 14 assists, along with Copa America and Golden Boot trophies to his name, the Argentine has had another brilliant season, but Owen is backing Lewandowski:

"I thought Lewandowski was so unfortunate not to win it in the COVID year when it was, it was obviously suspended or cancelled that year, and I would probably go with him. There are other candidates, don't get me wrong, Mo Salah's had a great season, although he's not won anything. Jorginho, on the other hand, for Chelsea, (has) won everything. But I'm not sure he's potentially good enough to win it ahead of players like Lewandowski, and so I'd probably go with him. He's